Discover 8 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Tantalus Provincial Park (Canada). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Madden Falls, Tantalus Range, and Mount Pelops. Also, be sure to include Mount Tantalus in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Tantalus Provincial Park (British Columbia).
Table of Contents
Madden Falls
Tourist attraction in British Columbia, Canada. Madden Falls is a tiered horsetail waterfall located in the Pacific Ranges of British Columbia, Canada. With a total height of 579 m, the falls are the 2nd tallest waterfall in Canada.[1]
Tantalus Range
Mountain range. The Tantalus Range is a subrange of the Pacific Ranges of the Coast Mountains in southern British Columbia, Canada. The range is easily viewed from the "Sea to Sky Highway" that travels from Vancouver to Squamish and Whistler. To Squamish people, the local indigenous people of the area, the name of the Tantalus Range is Tsewílx’.
The range's southern end is on the western edge of Squamish and it runs only about 35 km northwest on the west bank of the Squamish River and is less than 16 km wide at its widest. It is about 460000 ha (4600 km² or 1775 mi²) in area. Mount Tantalus, 2,603 metres (8,540 ft), is the highest in the range.
The origin of the name, as well as the names of many of its peaks, are from Greek mythology. Tantalus was doomed in Hades to be half-submerged in cold water with fruit dangling close but not close enough to eat, which is where the word tantalize has its root. Allegedly the name was conferred by a local mountain climber who was "tantalized" by the sight of the range's impressive spires and icefalls from across the turbulent waters of the Squamish River. Alternately, another version of the legend has Tantalus and his family frozen before a banquet, unable to move - very descriptive of the ice-draped and somehow regal character of the peaks and icefields of the range..
The Tantalus Range is a favourite with climbers, and also with photographers and filmmakers. The best views of it can be had just north of Squamish from the Brohm Ridge and Cheakamus Canyon stretches of BC Highway 99 (the Sea-to-Sky Highway).
Neighbouring ranges:
- Garibaldi Ranges
- North Shore Mountains
- Clendinning Range
(unnamed ranges not listed at present)[2]
Mount Pelops
Mountain in British Columbia, Canada. Mount Pelops is a 2,015-metre mountain summit located in the Tantalus Range, in Tantalus Provincial Park, in southwestern British Columbia, Canada. It is situated 10 km northwest of Squamish, and 7.5 km southeast of Mount Tantalus, which is the highest peak in the Tantalus Range. Its nearest higher peak is Mount Niobe, 0.2 km to the northwest, and Omega Mountain lies 1.7 km to the east. Precipitation runoff from the peak drains into tributaries of the Squamish River. The first ascent of the mountain was made in 1916 by Tom Fyles and his brother, John Fyles. The mountain was named for Pelops, brother of Niobe and son of Tantalus according to Greek mythology, with several peaks in the Tantalus Range being named for family members of Tantalus. The mountain's name was officially adopted on June 6, 1957, by the Geographical Names Board of Canada.[3]
Mount Tantalus
Mountain in British Columbia, Canada. Mount Tantalus is a 2,608-metre mountain in southwestern British Columbia, Canada, located 24 km southeast of Falk Lake and 134 km south of Monmouth Mountain. It is the highest mountain in the Tantalus Range of the Pacific Ranges and is famous for its snow-covered face.[4]
Mount Niobe
Summit in British Columbia, Canada. Mount Niobe is a 2,021-metre summit located in the Tantalus Range, in Tantalus Provincial Park, in southwestern British Columbia, Canada. It is situated 10 km northwest of Squamish, and 7.2 km southeast of Mount Tantalus, which is the highest peak in the Tantalus Range. Its nearest higher peak is Lydia Mountain, 2.03 km to the west-northwest, and Omega Mountain lies 1.1 km to the east. Lake Lovely Water lies below the northern slope of the peak and precipitation runoff from the peak drains into tributaries of the Squamish River. The first ascent of the mountain was made in 1910 by E. Kingsford-Smith and G. Warren via the south side. The mountain's name was officially adopted on June 6, 1957, by the Geographical Names Board of Canada. The mountain was named for Niobe, daughter of Tantalus in Greek mythology, with several peaks in the Tantalus Range being named for family members of Tantalus.[5]
Alpha Mountain
Alpha Mountain is a 2,302-metre summit located in the Tantalus Range, in Tantalus Provincial Park, in southwestern British Columbia, Canada. It is situated 14 km northwest of Squamish, and 4.6 km southeast of Mount Tantalus, which is the highest peak in the Tantalus Range. Its nearest higher peak is Serratus Mountain, 1.9 km to the west. The Serratus Glacier lies to the west of Alpha, unnamed glaciers lie on the northern and eastern slopes, and Lake Lovely Water lies below the south slope. Precipitation runoff from the peak drains into tributaries of the Squamish River.[6]
Mount Thyestes
Mountain in British Columbia, Canada. Mount Thyestes is a 1,697-metre mountain summit located in the Tantalus Range, in Tantalus Provincial Park, in southwestern British Columbia, Canada. It is situated 4 km immediately west of Brackendale, 7 km northwest of Squamish, and 10.7 km southeast of Mount Tantalus, which is the highest peak in the Tantalus Range. Its nearest higher peak is Omega Mountain, 2.4 km to the northwest, and Mount Pelops lies 3.6 km to the west-northwest. Precipitation runoff from the peak drains into tributaries of the Squamish River. The first ascent of the mountain was made in 1942 by R. McLellan, H. Parliament, and F. Roots. The mountain was named for Thyestes, son of Pelops and grandson of Tantalus according to Greek mythology. The mountain's name was officially adopted on June 6, 1957, by the Geographical Names Board of Canada.[7]
Omega Mountain
Omega Mountain is a 1,918-metre summit located in the Tantalus Range, in Tantalus Provincial Park, in southwestern British Columbia, Canada. It is situated 10 km northwest of Squamish, and 8.2 km southeast of Mount Tantalus, which is the highest peak in the Tantalus Range. Its nearest higher peak is Mount Pelops, 1.7 km to the west. Lake Lovely Water lies below the northwestern slope of the peak with Alpha Mountain on the opposite side of the lake. Precipitation runoff from the peak drains into tributaries of the Squamish River. The first ascent of the mountain was made in 1916 by Tom Fyles and his brother, John Fyles. The mountain's name comes from Omega, in keeping with nearby peaks being named for Greek alphabet letters, namely Alpha and Iota mountains. Its name was officially adopted on June 6, 1957, by the Geographical Names Board of Canada.[8]